FIJIAN CUSTOMS IN PRACTICE: A Guide to Family Ceremonies and Cultural Protocols for the Diaspora
Thursday, October 15, 2026
AI CAVUTI: Revised 2026 Author's Edition
Discover the rich heritage and traditional leadership structure of Indigenous Fiji through A I Cavuti.
This informative guide explores the chiefly titles, provinces (yasana), districts (tikina), and cultural affiliations that form the foundation of Fijian society. Drawing on traditional knowledge and customs, the book explains how Fijians identify their ancestry, social status, and cultural roots through the system known as Ai Cavuti.
Ideal for students, researchers, cultural enthusiasts, and anyone interested in Fijian history and tradition, this book provides a valuable reference to the chiefly titles and customary hierarchies found throughout Fiji's 14 provinces.
Key Features
- Overview of Fiji's traditional social and chiefly structures
- Detailed reference to provincial and district chiefly titles
- Insights into Indigenous Fijian heritage and customs
- Useful resource for cultural studies, genealogy, and research
- Easy-to-reference format for students and visitors to Fiji [amazon.in], [yumpu.com]
This book serves as a practical guide to understanding the cultural identity, ancestral connections, and traditional leadership systems that continue to shape Fijian society today.
CLICK THIS LINK TO GET YOUR COPY FROM AMAZON!
The Sharks of Vunilagi: A Pacific Thriller
The sea spared him once. The island changed him forever.
When English sailor Thomas Vale survives a shipwreck in the remote Fiji islands, he believes his greatest battle is over. Instead, he is drawn into the dangerous world of Vunilagi—an island divided by warfare, ancient loyalties and sacred traditions.
Taken in by the formidable Ratu Qoro, Thomas marries the chief’s daughter, Adi Litia, and is reborn as Tomasi. Over the years, he gains a family, a people and a place among the island’s warriors. But acceptance comes at a terrible price: to belong, he must take part in customs that once filled him with horror.
The arrival of Christian missionaries forces Tomasi to confront the man he has become. Yet abandoning the old ways proves almost impossible—until his own daughter, Mereani, is captured in battle and marked for a ceremonial feast.
Tomasi risks everything to rescue her. Their escape carries them into the open Pacific, where a capsized canoe leaves father and daughter swimming for two nights through shark-filled waters. Guided by the ancestral sharks of Mereani’s people, they struggle toward the distant reef and the possibility of home.But the sea has not finished with them.
Set against the beauty and danger of the Fiji Islands, The Sharks of Vunilagi is a gripping Pacific tale of shipwreck, cultural transformation, forbidden loyalties, faith, sacrifice and redemption. It is a story about the terrible choices people make to belong—and the extraordinary courage required to change.
A work of fiction inspired in part by a real tragedy at sea and by the enduring strength, spirituality and traditions of Fiji’s island communities.
MY FIJI: POLICY, PEOPLE AND POSSIBILITIES
MY FIJI: POLICY, PEOPLE AND POSSIBILITIES: Reflections and Policy Prescriptions for a Stronger, Fairer and More Prosperous Fiji
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What kind of Fiji do we want to leave to future generations and what must change to achieve it?
MY FIJI: POLICY, PEOPLE AND POSSIBILITIES is a thoughtful and forthright examination of the constitutional, political, economic and social issues shaping Fiji’s future.
Drawing on decades of experience in public policy, governance, community leadership and advocacy, Sai Lealea MNZM considers some of the country’s most difficult questions: How can democratic government be strengthened? How should the rights and aspirations of the iTaukei people be protected? What reforms are needed to improve public accountability, economic participation and the management of Fiji’s natural resources? And how can Fiji build institutions that genuinely serve its people?
The book presents practical policy prescriptions across a wide range of national concerns, including:
- Constitutional and electoral reform
- Democracy, the rule of law and accountable government
- The future role and independence of the Great Council of Chiefs
- iTaukei land, fisheries, minerals and customary resource rights
- Reform of public institutions and anti-corruption arrangements
- Economic development, investment and industry ownership
- Education, housing and community development
- Fiji’s military, national security and civil governance
- Diaspora participation and Fiji’s place in the wider Pacific
Written from an unapologetically pro-democracy and pro-Fiji perspective, this is not simply a critique of past governments or existing laws. It is a call for courageous leadership, informed public debate and practical reform.
My Fiji will interest policymakers, political and community leaders, students, researchers, members of the Fijian diaspora, and everyone who believes that Fiji can become more democratic, prosperous, inclusive and confident in its identity.
This is one citizen’s contribution to the continuing national conversation and an invitation to all Fiji Islanders to help shape a better future.
Paperback and Hardcover editions available soon on Amazon!
MANAGING A DIFFICULT DIVORCE
MANAGING A DIFFICULT DIVORCE: How to Protect Yourself, Protect Your Children, Make Better Decisions and Move Forward
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Fijian Customs and Culture EBook
Fijian Customs and Culture – A Brief Guide & Handbook
by Sai Lealea
Throughout this book the term Fijian refers to the indigenous people of Fiji.
For any one wishing to gain a general understanding of Fijian Culture and Customs, it can be a challenge finding useful information or guide as what to learn in order to be able to conduct oneself when amongst the people of Fiji.
As a Fijian, I know I have always been keen to have an accessible handbook from which I could quickly glean and learn the basics about my Fijian culture, especially those elements that form part of everyday life.
In my work, I have often been approached to provide advice, deliver language lessons and presentation on Fijian culture or translate Fijian materials. I have been fortunate to have learned and lived my culture all these years and am now keen to share it with those wishing to gain some basic understanding.
That is the aim of this book:
- to show you how to get started in developing a basic and general understanding of key aspects of Fijian culture and customs. It is not intended as a comprehensive guide but enough to be able to gain an appreciation of its importance and significance to Fijians.
In this book I have attempted
to bring together and summarised materials that are contained in various
publications into one to serve as a guide and handbook.
It is my hope that with the
topics covered in this book, those of you interested in learning and
understanding Fijian culture and customs will at least have access to material
that would come in handy and useful.
Topics covered include the following:
I Cavucavu ni Vosa Vakaviti - Pronunciation
Vula Vakaviti - Fijian Calendar
Wiliwili Vakaviti - Fijian Numbers
A I Cavuti – Chiefly Titles for Province and District
Na I Vosavosa Vakaviti – Fijian Idioms and Proverbs
Etiquette for Visiting a Fijian Village
Useful Resources
GET YOUR COPY OF THE E-BOOK TODAY!
Monday, December 21, 2015
How to be a Dictator : The Bainimarama Dictatorship in Fiji
 |
A
dictator is a job for life. If you retire you will face certain trial for the
crime of treason and other related offences
This E-book is about the Bainimarama dictatorship in Fiji. It is a brief attempt to describe and understand it along a number of features consistent with;
- how dictatorships begin
- how they forcefully sustain their rule; and
- attempt to prolong it, to stay in power illegally and rule over the people and country.
A dictatorship is
one of the most harmful types of governments, as it leaves the power in the
hands of a very few number of people, who use that power for their own personal
motives.
They often seize power illegally using force and weapons. More often,
it is the military that carry out the illegal takeover of power from elected
governments by virtue of their possession of weapons and personnel under
various pretexts.
This was
certainly the case in Fiji on December 5th 2006, when the military
under its commander, Frank Bainimarama, removed the government of Prime
Minister Laisenia Qarase in a coup. Since then, Fiji and its people have been
ruled by a military dictatorship.
To remain in power, force has been widely
used to suppress and curtail personal freedom and the rights of citizens.
Physical abuse, torture and deaths have resulted in a number of cases.
Significant changes have been carried out in the institutions of government and
public service. The rule of law has been eroded and citizens face ongoing
restrictions in how they live their lives. It is far cry from the aspirations
of Fiji’s population to live and be governed by a government of their choice
and where the rule of law applies to all.
When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right.
Victor Hugo
Bainimarama and
his supporters are now attempting to introduce a new constitution that
strengthens their position and ability to continue to intervene in the future
political affairs of Fiji. A new electoral system is to be developed and to
endear themselves to the people, generous social welfare spending and an
extensive capital works programme are underway. This has largely been funded
with loans from overseas countries further adding to the level of indebtedness.
Anywhere, anytime
ordinary people are given the chance to choose, the choice is the same:
freedom, not tyranny; democracy, not dictatorship; the rule of law, not the rule
of the secret police.
Tony Blair
In foreign relations, suspension of membership from longstanding
associations has necessitated the establishment of new alliances. Relations
have been established with nontraditional and far-flung nations, some with
unsavoury reputation such as North Korea and Cuba, while China and India have
been heavily courted for funding and aid assistance.
No
government or civilization will last forever. When the people realise you
are the cause of their misery and hardship, you don’t have much longer.
Read about it all in this E-Book!
Price: $6.99 US
CLICK THIS LINK TO GET A COPY FROM AMAZON!
WATCH VIDEO OF PROTEST AGAINST BAINIMARAMA DICTATORSHIP IN WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - 15 MARCH 2013.
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